Prior to entering show business, she worked as a Red Cross nurse and as a welder. She did an audition at the Players Theatre on a Friday, on the Monday she was a professional entertainer singing Marie Lloyd songs. She got the name Hattie while at the Players when as part of her act she sang a negro song. This was just after the film Gone with the Wind (1939), which featured the well-built black actress Hattie McDaniel, had been released. She considered the three big points in her career were: being taken on by the Players Theatre; joining the programme ITMA and working with Tommy Handley; and doing the radio series Educating Archie where she met Eric Sykes who wrote the scripts.

Being most famous for her matron characters it is interesting to note that she actually was a Red Cross nurse during the Second World War.

Last name was pronounced as "Jakes" rather than the French "Jacques" ("zhack").

Fellow "Carry On..." team members gave her the nickname of 'Mother Superior' on the set of the films. This was due to her compassionate nature and willingness to help other cast members with their personal problems.

She allegedly declined an O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1970s for her services to drama.

Attended The Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, London on a scholarship.

She worked as an arc-welder during World War II. She was able to use this skill when she played Alice, a welder, in Chance of a Lifetime (1950).

A memorial service was held for her at St. Paul's, Covent Garden (commonly known as the Actors' Church) on 10 November 1980.